What is Right for Me: Made-To-Measure or Bespoke?
When exploring the fashion industry, two types of outfits make their way into the closely knitted discussion: made-to-measure and bespoke.
Due to inadequate information, most people often use both terms interchangeably.
Made-to-measure is simply a ready outfit but given a few adjustments to meet the wearer’s specifications.
Conversely, a bespoke outfit is crafted from the ground up, all the way to the final outfit. Due to the clear-cut differences between the two outfits, there can be a bit of confusion about the best option.
This article explains these differences so that you have a deeper understanding when choosing.
Customization
A bespoke suit is the best suit!
The level of customization put in constructing these two types of outfits makes up their main difference. As the name suggests, the outfit is made from an existing outfit made earlier without your input. After the trials, the outfit is then given a few adjustments to make it suit your unique physique and measurements. This, therefore, means that the finer details of your body may never matter in this outfit type.
Bespoke suits offer their wearers full customization since the outfit is explicitly crafted from the ground up. Here, the tailor takes a customer’s measurements, which they rely on in sketching, forming the basis of the outfit construction. The customer will then proceed to choose their own fabric among many options availed to them. Several fits are done going forward to ensure the outfit brings out the perfect appearance of the wearer.
Cost
The complete customization associated with this choice takes the tailor longer to develop the piece. Then comes the intricate and lengthy process of accommodating all their customer’s desires and details. Since most of those who go for bespoke suits are after quality and class, premium materials are involved in the construction. This has the effect of making the suit type more expensive than ready-to-measure.
The material used to make the existing ready-to-measure may not always be of the highest quality in the market. Due to the partial customization involved in the construction, less time is taken to accommodate the few adjustments needed. These factors combined, make the outfit cheaper, compared to bespoke.
Fabric Choice
Made-to-measure suits do not allow customers any input as far as material and fabric choice is concerned. Tailors make the outfit from a base pattern beforehand so that when you come, all that is required is your measurements. Adjustments are then done to bring the outfit to your desired specifications.
With bespoke outfits, you are availed with several fabric and material options and settle on one that resonates your budget size, style, and occasion.
Personalization
As initially mentioned, bespoke outfits are often characterized by lengthy and direct customer-tailor interaction. From the moment you set foot into their shops, you will be assigned a tailor with who to walk the entire journey of bespoke suit making. From the measurement taking, fabric selection, fitting, and accommodating adjustments, you will have an interpersonal interaction with your designer throughout the entire construction journey.
Made-to-measure choice offers customers a partial interaction since the suit is almost halfway made at the point of selection. The limited customer-tailor interaction comes in during the taking of your measurements and the few fitting sessions.
Durability
The exact measurement taking and sketching, and the various fitting sessions allow tailors to make a perfectly fitting outfit. This therefore alleviates any room for too loose or too tight sections that would otherwise reduce the durability of the outfit. The choice of premium materials and fabric further extends the lifespan of the outfit.
Though still a great choice over stock suits, ready-to-measure suits may not meet the durability guaranteed by bespoke suits. The main reason for this is that customers have very little say in materials and fabric choices. The existing outfit may not also accommodate your exact appearance, which leaves room for too tight or loose sections, thereby affecting the durability of the piece.
Your choice over the two will often get down to budget size, fashion taste, occasion type, and how far you are willing to go with customization. Although they rank higher than their stock counterparts, bespoke suits enjoy a little quality over the ready-to-measure. However, regardless of your choice, ensure you are working with a highly skilled, experienced, and reputable tailor with a passion for the job. This is the only way to ensure you get an outfit that meets your fashion dreams.